Product Details

• Actors: Alfie Bass, Ballard Berkeley, Cyril Chamberlain, Marlene Dietrich, Helen Goss
• Format: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: September 7, 2004
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002HOEQW
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #20,380 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Classics > Mystery & Suspense

• For more information about "Stage Fright" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In suspense films characters frequently deceive one another. But can the camera tell a lie? This is one of the questions that Hitchcock takes up in Stage Fright (1950), and his answer has puzzled, infuriated, and delighted audiences ever since its initial release. Stage Fright is one of only two films Hitchcock made in Great Britain after he moved to America in 1940 (the other is Frenzy, his late masterpiece). It is also his only picture to star Marlene Dietrich, whose character's allegiances are even more ambiguous than usual.

Years after making Stage Fright, Hitchcock claimed that because the villains were just as frightened as the heroes, the film did not carry the requisite quota of menace. But it has received a good deal of attention in recent years and is worth a fresh look. The director did admit that he was proud of the movie's most astounding plot twist, though no commercial filmmaker since has been bold enough to let the camera lie so eloquently. --Raphael Shargel

Product Description

Jonathan Cooper is wanted by the police who suspect him of killing his lover's husband. His friend Eve Gill offers to hide him and Jonathan explains to her that his lover, actress Charlotte Inwood is the real murderer. Eve decides to investigate for herself, but when she meets the detective in charge of the case, she starts to fall in love.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily the most Underrated of all Hitch's..., July 27, 2004

By	M. DALTON (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like I said, STAGEFRIGHT is easily the most underrated of all Mr. Hitchcock's films. With first rate performances by all concerned(Alistair Sim is a riot), this was Hitch's first time back in England filming after many years abroad & it shows. Filmed in glorious black & white with the theatre as it's background, it's fuelled by almost every character playing a role other than their own & obviously having the time of their lives while doing it. Taking centre stage are Jane Wyman(a drama student who dangerously takes on her most important role in an effort to trap a murderer), Alistair Sim(as her father only too delighted to be caught up in the adventure)& Marlene Dietrich(delivering a deliriously over-the-top performance as a selfish actress). Filled with Hitch's trademark touches, the cinematography is magnificent(the garden party sequence is pure magic..watch for the sea of umbrellas)& hey! even Joyce Grenfell drops by for some great comic relief. Not that it needs it. This is the Master's great comedy murder mystery. 10/10 Bravo!!!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All the World's A Stage, August 23, 2000

By	Stephen Reginald (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Stage Fright (1950) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Why Stage Fright doesn't rank amongst the top Hitchcock films is one of the great mysteries of the twentieth century. It has all the things that the best Hitchcock films have: great stars, Jane Wyman and Marlene Dietrich, both at the top of their game, a compelling storyline, a blossoming romance, and wonderful characterizations from the supporting players. The story begins with Eve Gill (Wyman), a student actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and her attempts to shield her boyfriend Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd) from being framed for the murder of the husband of stage actress Charlotte Inwood (Dietrich). Jonathan and Charlotte were lovers and he fears that this relationship will be exposed (it was a secret) and thus establish his guilt. Eve who has had a crush on Jonathan for years believes he is telling the truth and tries to expose Charlotte as the real murderer. To do this she pretends to be the cousin of Charlotte's maid Nellie Good (Kay Walsh) who ostensibly is ill. In the guise of Doris, Nellie's "cousin," Eve is able to gain Charlotte's confidence. As Eve gets closer and closer to Charlotte, the mystery surrounding the death of her husband becomes more confusing and complex. Along the way, Eve is attracted to Inspector Wilfred Smith (Michael Wilding) who is investigating the case. As Eve's character tries to solve the murder, her relationship with the inspector gets a little strained. She wants to tell Wilfred that she's Doris, Charlotte's maid, but the timing never seems right. With more twists and turns than the average Hitchcock film, Stage Fright moves along at a crisp pace, keeping viewers guessing right until the end. To reveal more would spoil the fun. Wyman is great as Eve and absolutely charming as the maid, Doris. And Dietrich is at her best playing a woman who isn't at all what she appears to be. And that's a big part of what makes this film so compelling. No one is who they appear to be! Everyone seems to be acting a part or role for one reason or another. There is great support from Todd, Wilding, Sybil Thorndike and Alastair Sim (as Eve's parents). Thorndike is simply hilarious as Wyman's mother, as is Sim as her father. If you're a Hitchcock fan, I don't think you'll be disappointed in this one, and if you're new to Hitchcock, by all means give it a try.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "...and I shouldn't feel sad. It's so depressing.", April 25, 2005

By	Dave (Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most brilliant and underated thrillers, with his typically wonderful mixture of humor and suspense that keeps the viewer entertained from beginning to end. It has a first-rate cast, a great surprise twist at the end, and incredible cinematography. Oh, and you get to see sexy Marlene Dietrich sing and dance (which automatically makes this movie worth owning!). In fact, one of the songs she sings in this movie, "The Laziest Gal in Town", became one of her trademark songs which she'd continue to sing throughout the remaining years of her career.

The movie begins with drama student Eve Gill (Jane Wyman) listening to her close friend Jonathan Cooper (Richard Todd), who's now on the run from the police because he's been framed for the murder of his lover's husband, according to him. Although Eve is in love with Jonathan, he refuses to accept that his lover, famous stage actress Charlotte Inwood (Marlene Dietrich) set him up so that she could be with another man. Eve is determined to clear Jonathan, so she disguises herself as a maid and begins working for Charlotte Inwood.

Charlotte is careful not to reveal much about her husband's death to Eve, so Eve gets her loyal father (Alastair Sim) and a detective to help her. The detective, Wilfred Smith (Michael Wilding), is instantly attracted to Eve, and over time she falls in love with him (she calls him "ordinary" Smith as a joke and he then calls her extraordinary). Despite the fact that she's no longer in love with Jonathan, Eve is still determined to clear him of the murder charge, but when she finally confronts Charlotte about the murder, there's a shocking revelation that changes everything. To say anymore would spoil the awesome ending.

"Stage Fright" is not one of Hitchcock's best known films, but it is definitely worth owning on dvd. Marlene Dietrich, Jane Wyman, and especially Richard Todd gave outstanding performances in this classic thriller. The picture and sound quality are mostly excellent, and the bonus features include an exceptional making-of documentary "Hitchcock and Stage Fright" as well as the original theatrical trailer. Highly recommended!